Attachment for beverage dispensing faucets



c. L. CRUVE R 2,066,877

ATTACHMENT FORBEVERAGE DISPENSING FAUCETS Filed Sept. 30, 1955 Patented Jan. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING FAUCETS Curtis L. Cruver, Oak Park, Ill.

Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,797

4 Claims.

In taverns and other beverage dispensing establishments where beverages are sold and delivered from faucets or spigots connected with bulk packages of beverages, and which are practically hidden. from view of persons in front of the bar to which said faucets are secured, the purchasing public is not made aware of the origin of the beverage being dispensed. In order that the public may be informed and that representation of the tavern keeper or dispenser as to the origin of the beverage may be checked up definitely, it is desirable that the spigot from which the beverage is drawn shall carry a suitable means visible to the purchasing public to show that the beverage being purchased is drawn from the right spigot.

Hence, the object of the present invention is to provide a device attachable to and detachable from the faucet or spigot from which the beverage is dispensed, which carries a label or sign element for easy visibility to patrons of the tavern or other dispensing parlor, which designates the type of beverage being dispensed and which is easily interchangeable from one spigot to another to accommodate the needs of the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the type specified which may be permanently mounted in the faucet or spigot as aforesaid and which is equipped with means detachably securing various signs indicating the origin of the beverage being dispensed.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a dispensing spigot or faucet equipped with an attachment constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the handle or valve stem of the spigot or faucet in beverage dispensing position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the attachment per se.

The present practice followed in dispensing beverages is to have the dispensing faucets or spigots disposed behind a bar and somewhat below the level of the latter. In taverns, for example, these faucets may be connected with barrels or kegs of beer, each of which is of different type than the other, as, for example, light beer and dark beer, or beers originating in different breweries. In order that the bar-tender may not be confused and the customer deceived, it is desirable that each of the said dispensing faucets or spigots shall be equipped with a designation of the type of beverage being dispensed therefrom as hereinabove indicated. a

It is also desirable that said designating means shall be visible to the customer and shall not interfere with the normal operation of the spigot. 5

To this end, I have provided an attachment, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which comprises a U-shaped sheet metal member I having a short arm 2 terminating in a lip or projection 3 extending substantially at right angles to the short arm 2 and long arm 4 of said member I and which is provided with a perforation 5 which is adapted to be received between the upper end of the valve stem 6 of the faucet or spigot and the handle or knob 8 of said faucet or spigot, said knob or handle 8 being secured to the valve stem 6 by means of the threaded shank 9 of the valve stem and engaging in a threaded opening in said knob or handle 8, or vice versa. Said threaded shank 9 passes through the said perforation 5 and said projection 3 is clamped between the upper end of the valve stem 6 and the opposed face of the knob or handle 8.

The usual position of said attachment on the faucet or spigot 1 will be such that the long arm 4 of said attachment is disposed rearwardly of the valve stem 6 and extends to a height above the handle or knob 8 to render it visible to persons standing or sitting at the bar behind which the said faucet is disposed.

Detachably mounted upon the upper end of the said long arm 4 of the member I is a sign element such as a medallion I I1 composed of sheet metal and having a covering of suitable transparent material which is disposed over a printed label upon which there is imprinted the trade-name of the beverage being disposed from the faucet or spigot 1.

Preferably, the said medallion I0 is con- 40 structed to carry two labels, or the like, facing in opposite direction, one of them being visible to the bar-tender and the other visible to the purchaser of the beverage.

The said sign element ill may be constructed in any suitable manner, as for example, shown in Fig. 2, wherein the upper end portion of the long arm 4 is longitudinally slotted to render the respective resulting side portions M on opposite sides of said slot sufficiently flexible to be capable of being sprung slightly apart. The mouth of said slot is flared, as at I5, and immediately below said flared mouth said arms or side portions I4 are provided with opposed shallow recesses l6 into which the projection i3 of the sign element is adapted to be sprung and engaged. The peripheral shape of said projection l3 and the corresponding contour of the recesses I6 are such as to cause them to cooperate to hold the sign element against rotation relatively to the arm 4.

Obviously, the projection or flange 3 of the short arm 2 may be soldered or otherwise permanently secured to the valve stem of the faucet and, similarly, the sign element or elements mounted upon the upper end portion of the long arm 4 may be permanently secured to the latter.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the kind specified comprising a post, a sign element mounted upon the upper end of the post, an arm substantially parallel with and shorter than said post, a flange on said arm adapted to be clamped between the outer end portion of the valve-stem of a faucet and the digitally engageable handle thereof, and a spacing means connecting said arm with said post below the level of the said flange.

2. A device of the kind specified comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a long arm and a short arm, a flange provided with a perforation on the outer end of the short arm and extending away from the long arm, said flange being adapted to be secured to the valve stem of a faucet, and a sign element mounted upon the outer end of the said long arm.

3. A device of the kind specified comprising a post, a sign element, means on the latter and said post for detachably engaging said sign element with the upper end portion of said post, an arm substantially parallel with and shorter than said post, a flange on said arm adapted to be clamped between the outer end portion of the valve stem of a faucet and the digitally engageable handle thereof, and a spacing means connecting said arm with said post below the level of the said flange.

4. A device of the kind specified comprising a substantially U-shaped member having a long arm and a short arm, a flange provided with a perforation on the outer end of the short arm and extending away from the long arm, said flange being adapted to be secured to the valve stem of a faucet, a sign element, and interengaging means on the latter and the outer end portion of the said long arm for detachably engaging the latter with said sign element.

CURTIS L. CRUVER. 

